Changeable, multiface sign



De@ 7,1926. 1,609,650 l H. A. VLUNE) CHANGEABLEJ MULT IFACE S IGN Filed August 5, 1925 I N VEN TOR:

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1*Pa"r swr orties.

HA'LvoR A. LUND, or'Lo's ANGELES, cALIroRN'rA.

Application Afiled August 3,1925..y Seria-LINO. 47,819.

This invention relates to si-gnboards and especially to large Varea signb'oards and carrying a high etliciency of advertising value and, therefore, bei-ng let or engaged at a good rental figure. y

Such boards Vbear expensive posters or have the media hand painted. on themat the site of the board. The latter practice, of course, involves a' dead loss of time in the artists transit toand from the various sites of the different sign boards.

The present invention has for its objects to greatly increase the rental valine of signboards; to provide for the preparation or' the sign media at a central plant or studio, and to eliminate travel of arti-sts andlsupplies from board to board. Another object is to enhance the attractive effect of the board by inducing and holding the notice of the public by reason of a visible change or sign from time to time.V

Numerous other objects and advantages will be. made manifest' in the following specification of an embodiment of the invention shownin the annexed drawings; it being understood that modifications., variations and adaptations may beresorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention.

as it is` here claimed.V n

Figure l is a front elevation of Vthe signboard. i

Figure 2 is a section and `plan of parts.

Figure 3 is a sectionand elevation of the sign operating mechanism.

Figure t is a section andplan showing a iralre. Y

Figure 5 is a crossssection ot the shift bar and its cam traclr.

Figure 6 is a detail showing the assembly of a sign unit on its bearings.

The invention is here incorporated in a sign structure including a frame having end columns 2 with top lamps 3, and a ridge device t and a bottom rail 6, spaced to receive a set oic sign units 5. The units comprise, each, an element of triangular cross-section ot a width and length of tace which will differ in various sign boards. These units are adapted to be mounted in axial bearing so that they may be rotated, in the present case on vertical aXes, though they may be otherwise disposed.

A unit may be of various forms of construction and material. As here shown the unit is hollow and has at its upper end a socket 7 to be slipped up on a bearing pin 8 ina lbeam 9 forminga part of the ridge d.

Yrlyhe beam maybe covered by a water shedding strip l() having draining. eaves 1l forming a lateral` cover ltor the topends ott-he row of units 5; The lower end of each unit bias a stud or trunnion 12 whose lower portion is non-circular, as triangular at 13` to mesh in and turn with 'a s'oclfzet-shatt l5 into the upper end of which it may be dropped after the top endpoiu the unit has been'uslid up on the top support l8.

The several pairs of hearings 8*.15 are so spaced in a plane that when .a givenseries of vtheuni-ts 5has been installedlandthe units are all arranged with a side tace F of each lying in a common plane, their front edges, in saidplane, fill nearly meet. i In other words asignboard Jfront is presented whichis formed o -a num-berofv equal sections; each section being movable. Each unit has threeof these signboard sections, and, therefore, three different signs are prnesentable, in succession at the iront .of ,the signboard. i Having provided 'triangular sign-section units evenly disposed in a pla-ne and rotative o n coplanar ases,Y means are provided Vter concurrently turning all of the units in one direction a part of a revolution,*.namely, one third of` a turn-so as to bring into view successively the Athree races F of each unit, and to provide for vai period of rest to enable reading the advertising media.

While various forms of intermittent action turningdmeans may be employed, .a simple,

economical, substantial Aand practical form is here shown. Each lower s clet-shaft 1*5is supported in a bearing 16 and has a disc 17 with three equispaced, perpendicular pins 18 so arranged 'as to the soclfet hole that the units 5 can be positioned only in a predetermined manner in the sockets. The pins 18 are adapted to be succesively engaged by a draw-bar 2O having a set or lateral hooks 2l spaced to correspond with the spacing orl the centers of the units 5.

rilhe drawbar 20 is reciprocated by suitable means, asa link 22 attached to a crank 23 on a gear V24 geared down from a motor 25. Vhen the draw-bar pulls in one direction it comes into contact with a near pin 18 of each disc 17 and then all of the discs are turned together. Since the pins 18 move in an arc, I provide cam-tracks 26 having similar arc-slots 27 into which vproject pins 28 on the ends of the bar 20. This gives the lil bar an orbit for a part of its stroke similar to the path of' each pin 1S. lVhen the drawbar moves back it follows the arcslots 27 for a short distance and then runs onto switches 29 which deflect the bar-pins 28 until the hooks 21 clear ot and apposed to the near unit turning pins 18 lying in a row at the front. Then the bar-pins engage cam-walls 230 and slide in past lthe switches 29, which are yield-able in one direction. This brings the bar-hooks 21 over into eilective position on the forward stroke.

To prevent fluttering and looseness of the units cach disc 17 is engaged by a brake 32 which steadies action and prevents movement of the units by wind pressure. Each brake has a lug to position the unit as a hook 21 pulls a pin 18 around.

The bar 20 is free to float to and fro under top bearings 34 holding it down flat to po sition the ca1n-pins 2S.

It will be seen that the several faces F ot each unit 5 may be painted or otherwise applied with the several subjects ot' advertisement at a central plant or studio and then transported and easily and quickly installed in a signboard in their proper co-relation to cooperate, in given set of faces F, to show the sign media.

The actuating mechanism is a fixture in each signboard and requires only occasional inspection and oiling.

The panels may be translucent and interiorly illuminated it' desired by lamps L.

It will be seen that each face F of each unit 5 is a section of a group which bears a full signhoard display media.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a set of signboard units each having a plurality of media faces and being rotative to successively present different faces in a common front plane, and including a reciprocating, cam controlled, actuating bar, means for concurrently turning all of the units in one direction a predetermined degree and upper and lower bearing means providing for quick bodily mounting and dismounting of each unit for replacement ot sets of units independently o't the operating means and a switch means cooperative with the bar and Jforming a guide during its stroke in one direction.

2. A signboard including rotative units each having a plurality, ot sign 1races, and means for concurrently turning the units in one direction to change sign faces and effect rest periods; said means including tixed cam tracks, each having a switch gate, a reciprocating bar operative on one stroke to actuate said units and being thrown by said switches to ineliective position on the return stroke,

3. A signboard including rotative units each having a plurality ot media bearing faces, and driving couplings for concurrently turning all ot' the units to change the display front and to provide tor a period ot rest to enable reading the media` said units being detachably combined with the cou# plings, a reciprocating bar, and means 'for causing the bar to shift in an orbital path to engage and disengage from the driving couplings.

t. A signboard including a set of units each having sign media faces movable in predetermined sign groups into a front display position edge to edge, rotative, driving supports on which the units are removably stepped, and a cam shifted reciprocating draw-bar engaging and disengaging said support-s to turn them together.

5. A signboard including a set ot units which have, each, multiple sign faces adapted to lie edge to edge in selected front display groups, supports on which the units are mounted, a reciprocating draw-bar to actuate the units together, and cam-track means for causing the bar to move toward and from effective relation to the said supports.

HALVOR A. LUND.

fi i) 

